Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Glad” video

Perhaps the ultimate return tribute that MTV paid to the movie that made its house style a screen staple was J. Lo’s 2003 video, directed by David LaChappelle and featuring a re-enactment of Flashdance. (Of course, this MTV version is more economical, sacrificing narrative coherence to tell the story in just four minutes of quick-cut scenes.)

In fact, the re-enactment was such a perfect shot-for-shot homage that it engendered two lawsuits. One was a copyright infringement suit from Paramount, rights-holder to Flashdance. The other was from Maureen Marder, the construction-worker/dancer who’d sold her life story rights to the makers of Flashdance. She’d long ago sued them, too, complaining of exploitation for having sold the rights for a mere $2,300 to filmmakers who’d grossed $150 million at the domestic box office. Now, she argued, J. Lo had, by remaking Flashdance, stolen her life story again. (Marder’s suit was dismissed, and Lopez’s record label settled out of court with Paramount.)

In a way, of course, Lopez was re-enacting her own life story, that of the Bronx girl who’d used street moves to dance her way to fame. Unlike Flashdance, “I’m Glad” starred a woman who could perform her own dance moves.

There was only the one lawsuit, Gary, for the Lopez video. I did warn Paramount off a sequel (which is NOT a 'version' of the original movie) but that never amounted to a lawsuit as Paramount didn't proceed with their sequel idea. They did try to pay me off again for that, to secure those rights, but I didn't sign again.

My copyright to the real Flashdance story remains intact though, since I never did sign exclusive rights with Paramount to my story. I can still sell it or write it, etc., if ever I want to. Still haven't decided about that.